Means to facilitate the electrical bonding of railway rails



MEANS TO FACILITATE THE ELECTRICAL BONDING OF RAILWAY RAILS G. F. GRUNDON ET AL' Filed Feb. 8, 193g} Z imme/whoa 9 fT'rfrwzdar iafw.

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Patented Dec. 2, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT" QFFICE GEORGE F. Q-RUNDON, OF MIDDLETOWN, AND FRED E. KNIGHT, OLE HIGH SPIRE, BENN- SYLVANIA MEANS TO FAOILITATE THE ELECTRICAL BONDING OF RAILWAY RAILS .Applieatigr filed February 8, 1930. Serial No. 426,922.

In the construction of electric railways it is required that the rails be electrically bonded. This is essential to prevent loss of current which is both'dangerous and expensive.

It is customary to drill the web of the rails, either after the rails have been set or just prior to the positioning of the rails.

Either procedure is expensive because of the- The invention furthermore has as an object to protect the bond-receiving opening to assure a positive electrical connection whenthe bond is applied. This calls for simple, cheap, effective and readily applied protective means which maybe subsequently easily and quickly removed and, if desired, be capable of repeated use.

M While the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements, the design may be varied and changes in the minor details of construction may be resorted to within-the scope of the invention as claimed Without departing from the spirit thereof.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and the drawings hereto attached, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the end portion of a railway rail having a bond-receiving opening formed therein at the time the openings are provided in the web to receive the usual, bolts of the joint.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the bond-receiving opening sealed.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the means forming the seal for the bond-receiving opening.

Figure 5 is a side view of a'rail joint and electric bond.

Figure 7 is a modified form of sealing means for the electric bond opening.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The numeral 1 designates the end of a railway rail of ordinary construction. The web 2 has the usual openings 3 formed therein to receive the bolts 4 when the ends of adjacent rails are joined in the-accustomed manner, as indicated in Figure 5 of the drawings.

In accordance with this invention, the web 2 of therail has an opening 5 formed therein at the mill, and this opening is intended to receive the electric bond 6 whereby the ends of adjacent rails are electrically connected. This results in a material saving of time since the additional opening 5 may be formed in the web of the rail-at the time the openings 3 are formed without any-appreciable additional expense in time, equipment or labor. To preserve the opening5 intact to insure positive electrical contact between the rails and bond 6, said opening 5 is sealed at the -'mill and this is effected by the means disclosed.

For effectively sealing the bond-receiving opening 5, a plug 7 is provided, and usually consists of soft rubber of a diameter to snu ly fit theopening 5 and of a length greater than the thickness of the web 2, whereby provision is had for spreading or expanding of the end portions of the plug projecting beyondopposite sidesofthe web. Abolt8 passes through the plug 7 and washers 9 are mounted on end portions thereof, one of the washers being threaded to engage the threaded end of the bolt to admit of drawing the washers together and compressing and expanding the projecting end portions of the plug 7, whereby to effectually seal the opening 5 and prevent moisture or other foreign matter from entering therein.

In the modification-shown in Figure 6, the

washers 9a are dished and fit loosely upon the bolt 8, which receives a nut 10. The washers 9a are placed in position with their convex sides against the ends of the plug 7 and, consequently the projecting ends of the plugs are readily expanded when the nut 10 is screwed uponthe threaded end of the bolt 8, as will be readily comprehended.

The rails are shipped from the mill with the openings 3 and 5 formed in the webs thereof, the openings 5 being sealed to preserve them intact; \Vhen it is required to bond the rails, the seals may be easily and quickly re moved from the openings 5, thereby admitting of the bonds 6 being placed in position with the assurance that a positive electrical connection is formed. The seals removed from the bond-receiving openin s may be repeatedly used or, if desired, the bolts and washers may be utilized in any determinate way, thereby minimizing the expense incident to use of the seals.

While it is preferred to utilize a plug 7 pf I soft rubber, it is contemplated to form such plug of any suitable material which will prac- -tically hermetically seal the opening 5 to prevent possible entrance of moisture therein. The plug 7 should, therefore, consist of material impervious to moisture and which is capable of expansion to insure 'efiectiveclosing of the ends of the opening 5.

In the modification shown in Figure 7 of the drawings, washers are dispensed with, the

head of the bolt and the nut serving to make direct contact with the ends of the plug to expand the same against the sides of the web.

What is claimed is: 1. A new article of manufacture, a railway rail having two sets of openings formed in the web thereof prior to shipment from the mill,

one set of openings adapted to receive the bolts of the usual joint and the other set adapted to receive the electrical bond, and means sealing the bond-receiving opening.

2. A new article of manufacture, a railway rail having two sets of openings formed in the web thereof prior to shipment from the mill, one set of openings adapted to receive the bolts of the usual joint and the other set adapted to receive the electrical bond, and means sealing the bond-receiving opening,

' said means including a'plug snugly fitted within the opening and means passing through the plug and exerting an axial compression thereon to expand the ends against 'the sides ofthe web to overlap the ends of the opening.

3. A new article of manufacture, a railway rail having two sets of openings formed in the web thereof prior to shipment from the mill, one set of openings adapted to receive the bolts of the usual joint and the other set adapted to receive the electrical bond, and means sealing the bond-receiving openin said means including a plug of compressib e material and a bolt passing through the plug and adapted to create an axial compression whereby'to expand the ends of the plug adja cent the sides of llllGWBl) of the rail.

4. A railway rail having an opening in its web, and sealing means for said opening including a compressible plug of a diameter to snugly fit within the o1: ening and of a length to project a short distance beyond the sides of the web and a bolt extending through the plug and adapted to exert an axial compression thereon to expand the projecting ends against the sides of the web of the rail.

5. The combination with a railway rail having anopening in its web,'of a plug of resilient material snugly fitted in the opening and projecting beyond opposite sides of the web, a bolt assing through the plu and washers on t 1e ends of the bolt and a apted to be drawn against the ends of the plug to In testimony whereof weaffix our signatures.

GEORGE F. GRUNDON. [1 s.] FRED E. KNIGHT. [n s.] 

